The smell of freshly trimmed grass is in the air as landscapers clean up campus lawns. Work crews are putting the finishing touches on Duncan-Dunn and Community Halls. Student groups are leaving fliers in dorm rooms across campus.

It’s move-in time.

With dorms at nearly full capacity and Move-in 2012 beginning Saturday, a day earlier than years past, WSU is doing more than ever to prepare for a frenzy of activity that includes a freshman class that will top last year’s 4,176 students.

“We actually have a much bigger move-in process this year,” Director of Housing Services Bob Tattershall said. “…Every hall, every area has been working on plans and has been coordinating those with parking and the police.”

Move-in will feature new parking services intended to streamline the process. New unloading zones have been established, and a shuttle has been created to reduce the number of cars left in parking lots in front of dorms.

Kaitlin Gillespie/The Daily EvergreenConstruction crews have been working all summer to complete Duncan-Dunn and Community Halls. The hall, which will be finished later this week, is expected to hold 252 students.

“It’s an event and we’re treating it like an event,” said Chris Boyan, Parking and Transportations Services assistant director. “So we’re putting all the stops out.”

Boyan said the events staff, a team of about 40, will be guiding people to where they need to park and unload their cars.

In addition to the parking workers, about 250 volunteers, including students, staff and Pullman residents will available to help students move into their rooms, Assistant Dean of Students Mel Morgan said.

 “…Be patient, and don’t expect to be moved in within 20 minutes.” Morgan said. “This is going to be 3,000 people over the course of two days that are going to arrive in Pullman, so things are going to be a little congested.”

Morgan said more than 3,000 students are expected to move in this weekend alone.

 “Moving away from home for the first time is a significant event in every young person’s life,” President Elson S. Floyd said in a Perspectives blog released Tuesday, “and it is our opportunity to ease the transition and make sure they know how thrilled we are for them to join the Cougar family.”

For more information on Move-in, visit http://movein.wsu.edu/.